PAYOMET APPOINTS KEVIN RICE AS NEW MANAGING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Guy Strauss, founder and Managing Artistic Director of Payomet Performing Arts Center in Truro since its inception nine years ago, announced today the appointment of Kevin Rice of Wellfleet, as his successor effective December 15. Rice, co-founder of the Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater, is a respected playwright, director, impresario and professional actor.
Strauss says: "As we head into our second decade I felt it was time to bring in new blood, new ideas and vitality. We have long known that in order to strengthen and enhance Payomet's future, and simultaneously have a seamless transition, we would need someone with Kevin's immense talent and experience locally and in fact internationally. That person turned out to be an old friend and colleague, right in our own backyard. The Board of Trustees newly re-constituted to include both myself and Kevin, as well as long-time Truro friends and supporters Robert H. MacKinnon and Fred Schilpp are excited by this appointment and look forward to Payomet's tenth anniversary season back at the Tent at Highlands Center at Cape Cod National Seashore, North Truro."
Kevin Rice says: "I am incredibly excited about the possibilities in Truro. What Guy Strauss has accomplished in presenting 600 individual programs over the last nine years is remarkable. He's made Payomet into one of the premiere producers of theatre on Cape Cod and at the same time has brought some of the most exciting performances in kids' programming, storytelling, spoken word, music, comedy, and humanities to the Outer Cape. Including several World and Cape Cod Premieres. He's had innovative programming including a Independent Film Series, Yoga and his multi-year Shakespeare by the Shore Collaboration with Cape Cod Community College. It's an amazing foundation upon which to build as Payomet heads into its tenth season."
As for theatre, Rice intends to continue Payomet's tradition of employing professional Actors' Equity Association members from New York and Boston as well as the best on-Cape talent. "The audience demands it. From Chatham to Provincetown, we have more theatres per capita than any other region in the United States. The Cape has become a Mecca for discriminating theatregoers and Payomet has been an important part of this. The New York Times said Payomet is one of the In-Places to go for theatre on the Cape. Attendance for the 2007 season was our best to date."
Rice, who has taught acting at Payomet for two seasons, looks forward to an expansion of the program for children and new classes for adults. "A lot of our students have expressed an interest in classes in movement, improvisation and playwriting," says Rice. "I also plan to bring in some master teachers for special workshops including some international talent and hopefully one or two of my personal acquaintances from the Moscow Art Theater." Rice has directed two of his original works in Russia and is the recipient of grants from both the International Theatre Institute and CEC ArtsLink in New York.
updated October 18, 2007
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